Jubril Aminu
Jibril Aminu, former minister of petroleum and mineral resources, has died at the age of 85.
The renowned cardiologist, statesman, and diplomat passed away on Thursday.
His funeral (janaza) prayer was held at the National Mosque in Abuja, attended by dignitaries, family members, and members of the public who came to pay their last respects.
Born in August 1939, Aminu’s journey began with a medical degree from the University of Ibadan in 1965.
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He went on to earn a PhD in medicine from the prestigious Royal Postgraduate Medical School in London in 1972, a year that also marked his election as a fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science.
He was later admitted as a fellow of both the Royal College of Physicians, London, and the West African College of Physicians in 1980.
From 1974 to 1979, he served as the pioneer executive secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), where his vision and leadership left an indelible mark.
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The NUC, in a tribute celebrating his 85th birthday, hailed him as “the driving force behind the creation of the 6-3-3-4 education system” — a structural reform that redefined Nigeria’s approach to learning and skills acquisition.
He also served as minister of education and, subsequently, as minister of petroleum and mineral resources in 1989.
In 1991, he served as president of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation and chaired the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) conference between 1991 and 1992.
He was appointed Nigeria’s ambassador to the United States from 1999 to 2003, a period marked by renewed engagement and improved bilateral relations between the two countries.
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He returned to national politics shortly after, representing Adamawa central in the senate from 2003 to 2011.
